Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have believed for centuries that energy, or qi, is the single greatest influence on health and well-being. Now Letha Hadady, DAc (diplomat of acupuncture), has established a connection between energy type and weight loss. In her new book Feed Your Tiger (Rodale, December 2006), she teaches readers how to determine their energy type. Are you a Bear, Dragon, Crane, or Tiger? Find out. Plus: Take the energy animal quiz…

You can enjoy vibrant health and weight loss at any age by eating for your individual energy type, Hadady promises. Eating the wrong foods for your type, on the other hand, can make you more prone to certain weight gain patterns and illnesses.

Hadady’s diet is tailored to various personality traits, energy requirements and strengths and weaknesses that are common to different energy types. “Other diets fall way short because they don’t make allowances for emotional ups and downs,” she says. “When you give everyone the exact same diet, 70 percent of people fail.”

The Baseline Diet“The baseline diet is square one,” says Hadady. You start formulating your diet here and then adjust the plan for your personal energy animal type. The book is packed with sample menus and recipes, but here are the basics of what you’ll be eating each day:

- 1 protein source. Eat only one protein source each day, for example, eggs one day and salmon the next. Good protein choices include tofu, organic chicken, nuts, and seeds. Favor non-animal proteins like soy, which is “one of the cleanest proteins,” says Hadady. How many servings of protein should you eat a day? “Listen to your body,” she says. If you’re a 25-year-old training for a marathon, you’re going to need more protein than a sedentary 50-year-old.

The baseline diet works well for rapid weight loss after holiday celebrations or before a big event. “There’s no limit to how long you can stay on this diet,” explains Hadady. “It’s your choice.” If you get too hungry, or if weight loss is not your goal, add in more foods, making sure to base your diet on the guidelines of your energy animal.

The DragonDragons are vivacious and commanding, but when fatigued, they want nothing more than to curl up and sleep. Compassionate and kind, they give their all when it comes to love.

Goal: Reduce phlegm and water retention, to which Dragons are prone.

Load up on dark leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables in the cabbage family and asparagus. Spice up your salads with cardamom, fresh sage, raw garlic, onions, ginger, and red pepper.

Overweight dragons may have low self-esteem because of their excess weight, so make fixing your emotional eating patterns a goal.

Eat this Dragon food: Shirataki is a no-calorie, high-fiber noodle made from a Japanese yam called konjac. This low-glycemic food is especially useful for Dragons, who are prone to diabetes. Use Shirataki to make sesame noodles or add it to soups and salads.

The BearBears are social types who love to entertain family and friends. They’re usually outgoing, but turn to comfort foods when depressed.

Goal: Replace sugary desserts with healthy sweets to help eliminate belly fat; stop turning to food in times of stress.

Eat fruit for dessert. Try the Chinese tradition of ending a meal with an orange slice, which stimulates digestion and clears the palate. And remember, the riper the fruit, the sweeter the taste.

Eat this Bear food: If you crave dessert, try a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil. “It’s rich, satisfying and filling like a sweet treat,” explains Hadady.

The CraneCranes are solitary creatures who need rest after social events. They may have unhealthy addictions, like smoking or junk foods.

Hadady has more detailed instructions in her book, but here are the basics:

Soak seeds or whole grains overnight in a jar of water. The next morning, pour off the soaking water, then cover the jar with cheesecloth fastened with a rubber band or foil in which you have punched a few holes. Keep the jar in a dark place. Rinse the seeds or grains three times daily with cool water. They grow at different rates, depending on the type of seed or grain used.

Then use the sprouts in sandwiches, salads and smoothies.

The TigerTigers are ambitious and dedicated. They’re social and charming, but prone to nervous energy. They become aggressive when frustrated.

Goal: Make it a priority to eat a healthy meal, no matter how busy you are; calm nervous energy; reduce cellulite.

Cellulite can be exacerbated by caffeine, says Hadady. Tigers may sit for long periods of time while working on projects, using caffeine stimulants to stay awake. This combination of inactivity, prolonged mental activity and caffeine leads to water retention and cellulite, Hadady explains.

Steal this Tiger advice: Instead of coffee, Hadady recommends Chinese ginseng or gotu kola tea for an energy lift. This mild tea from India will promote calming energy all day long, she says.

Hadady also recommends eating plenty of green foods, which help to eliminate wastes from the body. Spinach is a good choice, or try seaweed if you’re adventurous. Kelp contains iodine 127, an isotope which can boost metabolism; Alaria is a good source of calcium; Nori is packed with protein; Dulse provides B vitamins, iron and fiber.

Add seaweed to soup or salads, toast it in the oven, mix it into stir-fries or serve it as a side dish.

Putting It All TogetherAlthough one animal may be dominant, “We all have tendencies of all the animals,” says Hadady. She includes a comprehensive diet at the end of her book, which mixes and matches the best nutrition tips from each animal.

Hadady’s clients have lost from 15 to 100 pounds. “Regardless of how much weight they lose,” she says, “all my patients feel stronger, in command of their diet and healthier.”

For more information, check out Feed Your Tiger (Rodale, Dec. 2006) and asianhealthsecrets.com.

What’s Your Energy Animal?Find out if you’re a Dragon, Bear, Crane, or Tiger, and learn how to conquer your food cravings, gain vitality and lose weight with this energy animal quiz.